Incinerating-furnace.



F. L. STEARNS. INOINERATING FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18,1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l;

WITNESSES:

av z ww ATTORNEY F.- L; STEARNS. INOINERATING FURNACE. APPLICATION rmm M, 1905.

973,313. Patented Oct. 18,1910.

5 SHEETS-BEBE! 2.

WITNESSES: HSIVENTOR ATTORNEY F. L. STEARNS.

-INGINERATING FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7,1905.

973,31 3. l atentd Oct. 18, 1910.

5 SHEBTS -BHEET 8.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

F. L. STEARNS. INOINERATING FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.7. 190s.

Patented Oct. 18,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

5 M Z JZZM INVENTOR ATTORNEY FREDERICK L. STEAK/NS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INCINERATING-FURNACE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERIGK L. STEARNS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incinerating-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to adapt an incinerating furnace for burning ordinary refuse as a furnace for burning garbage by suitable means giving an intense heat, and means for drying so that gases driven off from the garbage will be burned by or with the gases of the fuel.

A further object is to provide an incinerating-furnace into which the material to be consumed is directly charged in its crude condition without any especial treatment, except, perhaps, sorting, and by which furnace the charges of waste material are subjected to intense heat for securing their substantially perfect combustion, the only gases arising being the products of combustion and not such gases as arise from incomplete combustion of the refuse. The products of combustion are carried off by a high chimney to be dissipated into space.

Another object of my invention is to adapt the furnace as a steam-boiler heater to furnish power for a suitable engine or motor to operate any working parts of the furnace or any other part to be driven, and also to furnish in the steam-boiler furnace or heater high supplemental heat, as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an incinerating-furnace of large capacity especially adapted to disposing of the waste material from large cities; also, to provide an economical and otherwise eflicient incinerating-furnace.

My invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a desirable form of my invention Figure 1 is a front elevation of an incinerating-furnace embodying the invention, the chimney being shown broken away. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, in which the chimney is also shown broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sect-ion on the line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4:47 of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 3 and 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Mar h 7, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 249,145.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of vertical section on the line 8'8 of Figs. 3, and 6. Figs. 9 and 10 are sections respectively on line 99, Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, and line lO10, Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, the walls a of the furnace are of any suitable fireproof material, as fire-brick, concrete, or the like.

The combustion portion of the furnace is duplexthat is to say, there are two main combustion-chambers 1) 6 which are arranged parallel with each other and are provided at the bottom portions with stokingdoors 0 0 respectively, which doors may furthermore be provided with suitablyclosed stoke-holes 0 if it is not desirable to open the entire door. The bottom of each main combustion-chamber is furnished with a grate (Z, which consists of grate-bars of suitable length extending lengthwise of each main combustion-chamber.

Ext-ending transversely of the main combustion-chambers 7) b and located under the grates (Z cl are two sets of supplemental combustion-chambers e respectively, there being preferably two supplemental combustion-chambers in each set, one set for each main combustion-chamber. These supplemental combustion-chambers are provided with doors 6' for the purpose of stoking, which doors may furthermore be provided with suitably-closed stoke-holes c. There is a door for each supplementalcombustionchamber (2 c. The bottom of each supplemental combustion-chamber is formed by grates f P, consisting of bars extending, preferably, parallel to the grates (Z (Z The spaces or interstices of the grates f f are of less width than those of the grates d al Below the supplemental combustion-chambers c c and below the grates f f are ashpits g 9 which extend parallel with the The main combustionchambers are charged with the waste material from above through suitable feed-holes h h closed, as by means of covers if if, suitably suspended. The feed-hole it may be used for charging comparatively dry refuse material or rubbish into the fore part of the main combustion-chamber, while the feed-hole 72. may be used for moist material, such as garbage, which enters the main combustionchamber at a point behind the place of combustion of the more combustible rubbish and at a point above the drying-table (Z so that the garbage will feed directly onto the said table. The table (Z has substantially all of its upper surface located in the path of the hot products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and evidently not only dries the garbage, but a portion of the same will be directly burned thereon.

The forward ends of the main combustion-chambers are provided with suitablyoperated slide-doors 6 i either or both of which may be opened, according to the size of the pieces of rubbish to be charged into the furnace and which could not be passed through the feed-hole h. The double slidedoors i z" obviate the necessity of one large door and the objectionable entrance of cold air when one of the doors 2' i is sufficient, when opened, to admit the piece to be burned. Located at the outer ends of the main combustion-chambers and the supplemental chambers are annex fire-chambers (Z (V, respectively, which are preferably provided with grates (Z (Z below which are small ash-pits g g Theheat from the fire-chambers d", (Z passes through the main and supplemental combustion-chambers respectively.

Preferably both of the annex combustionsupporting fire-chambers, are arranged so that that annexed to the main combustionchamber is arranged to one side of the supplemental combustion-chamber, and that annexed to the supplemental combustionchamber is arranged under a portion of the main combustion-chamber, thus providing a compact arrangement of said chambers for securing the greatest economies and for producing a very high degree of heat.

The plurality of main combustion-chambers 7) b are connected by a branch flue 7', which extends transversely of the inner ends of said main combustion-chambers, and the supplementalcombustion-chambers e e are connected at their inner ends by means of openings 6 with a branch flue i The garbage-drying tables (Z are located in the flue 7'. The branch fines y' j converge in a main flue 7r, with which they are connected by a passage so that the products of combustion from all of the combustion-chambers eventually pass into one line, as is. This flue Z' communicates, as shown in Fig. 3, with a chimney Z and is controlled, preferably, by means of vertically-sliding side by side dampers m, guided in ways m in the sides of the flue and operated by means of chains or wire-ropes m which pass through a guide-plate m the openings through which are of small size to substantially preclude the entrance of atmospheric air.

Returning now to the ash-pits g of the furnace, it will be seen that there are two sets or a plurality of sets thereof, under each of which are a plurality of suitable endless conveyers n if, which form traveling bottoms for the ash-pits and which are trained over guide pulleys or wheels 0, suitably supported in the foundation-walls of the furnace by means of shafts 0 0 The endless conveyers are preferably driven from their outer ends, so that their upper laps will travel in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5-that is to say, the upper laps of the two sets of conveyers travel toward a common center, whence the ashes may be removed in any suitable manner. The ashpits g g are at their outer ends closed in any suitable manner, as by means of doubleacting doors p, which act in the manner of flap-valves, being hinged at p to suitable supports p fixed to the furnace-walls. These doors permit the insertion of stoking devices or feeding devices in case the ashpits should become clogged and close automatically, so as to cut ofi an undue amount of air. The inner ends of the ash-pits are closed in like manner by means of hinged doors 9, which open automatically to the ashes as the same are fed to the common point. These doors 9 are arranged along the sides of a transverse ash-chamber g between the sets of ash-pits.

The operation of the furnace so far as described is as follows: Material to be burned is charged into the main combustionchambers, either or both of them, and onto the drying tables (Z through the most desirable feed-hole or door. The material if sufliciently dry may be ignited directly, but if too wet some more highly combustible material must be used, as wood, coal, gas, oil, or other suitable combustible, to dry and burn the wet material. Said highly-combus tible materials are to be placed in the part of the furnace most suitable for attaining aforesaid object. For instance, the coal should be burned on the grates (Z* d, and wood or dry-rubbish may be fed into the furnace through the doors 2' 2', e or the feedhole It. The flames and hot air and gases pass under, over and through the said wet material, and, with suitable stoking on the grates (Z (1 the charred material falls through the wide spaces between the gratebars into the supplemental combustionchambers, where the fire continues to burn the material to ash. The finer material (garbage) fed onto the drying-tables (Z is stoked forward onto the grates (i (l being mixed with the other burning material, and with the same is stoked through grates d (Z onto grates f F. When the material is completely burned to ash, the ashes are stoked through grates ff onto the conveyers a M. The small openings of the grate f preclude the falling below of material which can pass through the larger openings of the grate (Z. The products of combustion and gases passing from the main comlmstion-chambers b b and from the supplemental combustion-elmmbers c 6 pass to the common or trunk flue 7s, and as this fine and flues j 7' are of considerable length and as the COmbUStlOII-ChZLDIbQI'S are arranged, as shown, relatively, to each other and to their flues, the combustion-chambers and the walls of the tines become intensely hot, with the result that the combustible gases which are not directly consumed by the tires are consumed by the time the products of combustion are carried to the chimney. The products of combustion, including the non-inflammable gases, -which are less objectionable than the noxious gases of the crude refuse or garbage, are carried olf by the chimney high into the air and are then dissipated. The hot gases passing from the main combustion-chambers pass over the drying tables in the fines j, at the rear of chambers, and the gases from all the chambers unite in flue or passage 7:, and then divide, part going under each drying-table, as shown in Fig. 9.

The furnace is so constructed that the necessary air to support combustion will find entrance through door 77, which after the furnace has worked for some time may be closed, as after the tires have become intensely hot sulficient air will find entrance through air-spaces leading to the ash-pits. Air to support combustion may also be ad mitted through the door 0 and the best means to regulate the furnace will be found by practice.

The moving parts of the furnace, consisting of the endless conveyers and their supports, are located in a comparatively cool belt inasmuch as they are separated from the intensely-hot belt comprising the main combustion-chambers by the less hot belt comprising the supplemental combustionchambers in which the remains of the material mainly consumed and charred in the main combustion-chambers is completely reduced to ashes The heat generated by this incineratingfurnace is preferably utilized for generating steam which may be used to drive a suitable engine to furnish power for operating the endless conveyers or for supplying power for some other purpose desired. To this end the flue Z" is connected by openings :1? I, and

to which the diverging currents of hot gases or products of comlmstion lead from under the tables (Z with a large chamber 8, in which is supported a steam-generator s, which may be of the tubular or any other suitable type, and which steam-boiler chamber .9 preferably contains grates s for tires which may be used independently of the furnace for generating steam or in conjunction with it. The grates extend in longitudinal series under the boiler 8. At one side of the grate s is a fire-bridge 25, which separates the steam-boiler chamber 8 below the. boiler from a line t connected by dampercontrolled passages u with the remote end of the flue A. This flue 25 is auxiliary to the flue in and is controlled by a set of suitable dampers 21 constructed, arranged, and op erated similarly to the set of main dampers m but arranged substantially at right angles to the last named dampers. It will be seen that on opening the dampers m and closing the dampers it the boiler will not be heated to any material extent; but when the dampers "11 are opened and the dampers 111- closed all the intensely-hot products of combustion will be caused to divide and pass through the passages r 1" into the chamber s through the tubes of the boiler s and the fine 2. into the chimney Z. Thus the boiler is sufficiently heated to generate steam, although if at the outset the furnace-heat is insutlicient supplemental fires may be lighted on the grates By providing a pair of dampers m and a pair a either damper of a pair may be closed or opened and better regulation obtained.

Access to the various fines described may be obtained by means of suitable doors to for the purpose of relieving them of accumulation and soot. Doors in permit stoking the drying tables (Z doors a in the front of furnace permit the charging of fuel onto the grates (5*; doors 4& ac are for the removal of ashes from ash-pits g and 9 respectively; doors m permit charging of fuel onto grates s and doors 0& permit removal of ashes from the ashpits under grates .9 It may be desirable to use air or steam-injectors under one or more of the grates.

ithout restricting myself to details, as some features may beomitted and others used in combination with others parts producing equivalent results and their form and construction modified, what I claim as my invention covering improvements in incinerating or refuse furnaces, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a main combustionchamber and its grate, a supplemental combustion-chamber and its grate, over which the main combustion-chamber is located, said chambers extending transversely to each other, a combustion-supporting firechamber located at one end of the supplemental combustion-chamber and under a side portion only of the main combustionchamber, and suitable flues, one of said flues leading from the other end of the supplemental combustion-chamber laterally to one side of the main combustion-chamber, for substantially the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a main combustionchamber and its grate, a supplemental combustion chamber and its grate extending transversely of the main combus'tion-chanr ber, said main chamber being located above the supplemental combustion-chamber, combustion-supporting annex fire-chambers located at the outer portions of the said combustion chambers, the annex fire chamber for the supplemental combustion-chamber being located under a side portion only of the main combustion-chamber, a flue leading laterally from said main combustion-chamber, and a flue leading from said supple mental combustion-chamber at the end opposite its annex fire-chamber, for substantially the purposes set forth.

3. The combination With an incinerating or refuse furnace and its chimney, of a steam boiler furnace associated therewith and containing a boiler, flues leading from the furnaces to the chimney, and dampers in said flues, the flue from the incinerating furnace having side openings 1", r leading into the steam boiler furnace under the opposite ends of the boiler, and the steam boiler furnace being provided With a series of separate fire-places disposed longitudinally thereof under the boiler and arranged opposite said openings, for substantially the purposes set forth. 1

at. The combination of a main combustionchamber and its grate, a plurality of narrow supplemental chambers and their grates,

over which the main combustion-chamber is located, said chambers extending transversely of the main combustion-chamber, the ash-discharge openings in said main chamber grate constituting the sole means of direct or draft communication between the said main chamber and the lower chambers, a combustion supporting fire chamber located at one end of each of said narrow supplemental combustion-chambers and under a side portion only of the main combustionchamber, and suitable flues, one of said flues leading from the other end of each of the supplemental combustion-chambers laterally to one side of the main combustion-chamber, for substantially the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of a main combustionchamber and its grate, narrow supplemental combustion-chambers and their grates, extending transversely of the main combustion-chamber, said main chamber being located above the supplemental combustionchambers, combustion-supporting annex firechambers located at the outer portions of the said combustion-chambers, the annex firechamber for the supplemental combustionchambers being located under a side portion only of the main combustion-chamber as opposed to the end Where the annex flre-chamber thereof is located, a flue leading laterally from said main combustion-chamber, and a flue leading from the said supplemental combustion-chambers at the end opposite its annex fire-chamber, for substantially the purposes set forth.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois this 2% day of Feb. 1905.

FREDERICK L. STEARNS.

Vitnesses TM. NELSON, -WILBUR D. JMOORE. 

